The Gladys Avery Foundation
The Gladys Avery Foundation is a private foundation based in Wayland, Massachusetts. In its 2025 filing, it reported making 12 grants totaling $30,750 to charitable organizations.
The Gladys Avery Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gladys Avery Foundation gave $31K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Massachusetts. 58% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $30,750
- +56.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,563
- +4.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $183,213
- -24.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 58% first-time grantees (7 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Gladys Avery Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Charlie Tillett 82 Plain Road, Wayland, MA 01778
Phone: (508) 358-7861
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gladys Avery Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massmetrowest Inc ($20K). Together the top 10 received $30K.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 48 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Massachusetts. In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts; the other listed recipient-state shares were Ohio (4%), California (3%), Hawaii (3%), and Colorado (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Gladys Avery Foundation open to new grantees?
58%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 12 grantees (58%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $821; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 25% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 38% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 288% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2021) to $50K (2022). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $31K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massmetrowest Inc Worcester, MA | Program Support | $20,000 |
| First Parish in Wayland Wayland, MA | Program Support | $2,000 |
| Alta Community Enrichment Los Angeles, CA | Program Support | $1,000 |
| Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (Flow) Columbus, OH | Program Support | $1,000 |
| The Greater Boston Food Bank Boston, MA | Program Support | $1,000 |
| Lahaina Community Land Trust Lahaina, HI | Proram Support | $1,000 |
| Boulder Cancer Fighters Boulder, CO | Program Support | $1,000 |
| Weston Forest and Trail Association Inc Weston, MA | Program Support | $1,000 |
| Parkinson Association of the Carolinas Charlotte, NC | Program Support | $1,000 |
| Thrive Survivor Support Center Concord, NH | Program Support | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $183,213 | $22,692 | $34,331 | $30,750 | 12 | $31,585 | $19,960 | $10,981 |
| 2024 | $241,382 | $110,027 | $22,935 | $19,600 | 8 | $20,328 | $108,373 | $9,233 |
| 2023 | $196,988 | $83,840 | $33,778 | $32,000 | 7 | $32,696 | $77,369 | $8,354 |
| 2022 | $182,726 | $62,567 | $51,366 | $50,000 | 13 | $50,635 | $15,273 | $9,952 |
| 2021 | $272,298 | $9,998 | $15,720 | $14,500 | 8 | $15,123 | $9,411 | $11,418 |
| 2020 | $197,492 | $-38,811 | $21,274 | $20,000 | 5 | — | $724 | $8,924 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gladys Avery Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own stated missions cover a range of activities. For example, Thrive Survivor Support Center says it provides advocacy, resources, education, and shelter for people affected by abuse and violence. Weston Forest and Trail Association says it maintains public hiking trails and land for conservation, scientific, and educational purposes. Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed says it works to keep the Olentangy River and its tributaries clean and safe through education, volunteering, and coordination with local decision makers. Pelotonia says its mission is to engage and inspire a community committed to accelerating innovative cancer research.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $30,750. Grants ranged from $250 to $20,000, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest was $20,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest Inc. for program support. Other grants included:
The listed grants were for program support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these trustees: Charles Tillett IV, Maureen Tillett, Elizabeth Matthews, and Charles W Tillett V.
The Gladys Avery Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Maureen Tillett
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles W. Tillett V
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Matthews
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Tillett IV
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Charlie Tillett (2020–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Gladys Avery Foundation
How much does The Gladys Avery Foundation give each year?
The Gladys Avery Foundation gave $31K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $20K across 8 grants.
What is The Gladys Avery Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gladys Avery Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,563, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Gladys Avery Foundation that year got $821 on average.
Where does The Gladys Avery Foundation give grants?
The Gladys Avery Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (2 grants).
Does The Gladys Avery Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The Gladys Avery Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (11 grants).
Who are The Gladys Avery Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gladys Avery Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massmetrowest Inc ($20,000), First Parish in Wayland ($2,000) and Alta Community Enrichment ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Gladys Avery Foundation?
The Gladys Avery Foundation reported $183K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $32K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Gladys Avery Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own stated missions cover a range of activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gladys Avery Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Gladys Avery Foundation's EIN?
The Gladys Avery Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3544625. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Gladys Avery Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work The Gladys Avery Foundation funds
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Figures come from The Gladys Avery Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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